Neuronal Physiology

General Information
• There is 2 way passage of proteins,
organelles & other materials along axon of
neuron called as Axonal transport

• To serve as an ion gate in membrane

• Substances are transported from axon

terminal back to soma for disposal or
recycling
 Axonal transport
• Fast Axonal transport
 @20-400mm/day
 Both AG & RG directions
 Certain viruses & toxins can be conveyed by axonal
transport along peripheral nerves e.g. chickenpox, tetanus

• Slow Axonal transport

 @0.5-10mm/day
 Always anterograde
 Moves enzymes & cytoskeletal components
 Axonal Transmission
• Occurs through rapid, sudden, rise change in
membrane potential known as Action Potential
(once it is generated always propagate)
• Properties of Action Potential
 Threshold level
 Refractory period
 Conductivity (ability of neuron to
carry +ve charges laterally which is stimulus for
another AP) referred as cable property
 Propagation
 Neurotrophins
• Neuronal growth factors or
• Chemicals which promote neuronal growth in fetal
brain
• THESE INCLUDES:

 Nerve growth factor (NGF)

 Brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) &

 Glial derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF)

 Synapse
• Specialized junction where transfer of
information takes place between a neuron
and a target cell
• Target cell can be another neuron, muscle,
cell or gland
• Synapse means clasping of hand as in

• HAND SHAKE
 New synapse formation
• Can occur through out life from the basis of
learning and memory

e.g. typing & driving,after perfection new

synapses developed and u become perfect i.e.
new or more connections (good analysis
integration)
 Types
• Axo dendritic
 Common
 Axon terminal & dendrite
• Axo somatic
 Axon & cell body
• Axo axonic
 Less common
 Axon &Axon
 Upon Nature
• Chemical Synapse
 Commonest
 Release NT
 Uni directional
• Electrical synapse
 Actual communication between cells
 Bidirectional
 Faster communication
 Synchronization
 Common in Invertebrates
 Mechanism of release of NT
• Arrival of action potential at axon terminal
• Opening of voltage gated Ca channels
• Ca influx from ECF
• Ca binds with protein on inner side of membrane
(release sites)
• NT vesicles bind & Fuse to presynaptic membrane
• Discharge NT by process of exocytosis in synaptic
cleft
• Bind with post synaptic membrane has large no .of
receptors
 K S
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